National Back-to-School Month – For Your Dog!
As the summer starts to come to an end, many families are preparing for going back to school as apart of National Back-School Month. But many people forget that other members of their family can also go back to school – the dogs! There are many reasons to put your dog through obedience training. As you keep reading, we will go through some of the biggest ones.
Building Trust Through Training
When you attend classes with your dog, the bond between you can grow stronger. The dog will begin to look to you for guidance on what to do. You, in turn, will grow to understand more about what your dogs behaviors will be, creating boundaries for them to follow, and knowing they will listen to your commands.
Make Life Easier
Obedience classes help to address negative behaviors in dogs. Whether they are jumping on your friends when they come over, or they have destructive behaviors – training can help. You can curb the negative behaviors and gain control. Additionally, regular training sessions can help stimulate your dog mentally and physically. This, in turn, can keep them from growing bored, and looking for other, more negative outlets like chewing up your couch cushion!
Communication With Your Dog
Training your dog gives you the opportunities to get to know them better. You can learn more about their personality, and how to understand them. In turn, your dog can learn the cues you are giving, and understand the behaviors you are expecting. It can also help your dog to come out of their shell. Positive reinforcement during training can encourage your dog to interact more with not only you, but the environment around them. This can also lead to a higher level of comfort when introducing new experiences to your dog!
Every Dog is Unique
Every training course is not going to fit with every dog. Some may be done to improve specific behaviors. Or, you may attend a course designed for your dog’s specific breed and their needs. If you have a dog that has been bred to dig, they may be digging your yard up. However, you can work specifically with a trainer to address this issue, and train your dog to use a specific outlet for digging – like a sandbox!
There is also a choice between group trainings and one-on-one trainings for you and your dog. Group sessions are typically a course you attend with your dog, training alongside other humans and dogs. This type of training will normally follow a specific curriculum for the training that is designed to cover a variety of tricks and behaviors.
One-on-one training is often used to address specific behaviors, or for dogs that have behavior and aggression issues when exposed to other dogs.
Take the time to look into training for you and your pup today! You can find local classes by checking out your local PetSmart Training Courses, or you can check out a variety of trainings offered by the Animal Humane Society. For tips on training with a brand new puppy, and how to start, you can check out our blog Training Talk: Bringing Home a New Puppy!
Disclaimer: This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice. Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.
